But in my opinion....your basic rectangular or basic triangle shawl.....the ends to be wrapped around the body are the length of the recipients arms held out to the side...measured fingertip to fingertip.

That is just what I follow. It is not a rule that if you do not follow, you will have some of your stash taken away.

Shucks Randy...thanks. Been working outside (til it got too hot!), quitting smoking, quitting my diet coke with aspartame addiction, oh joy! One would think I would have been knitting up a storm but I just started getting back to it.

The rule of thumb - (size that most people find "most usable" is the wingspan - which is usually equal to the height. I usually try for wingspan plus 6 inches, which allows a little leeway if the person is more "buxum" - which many of my relatives are.

Rectangular stoles can be longer - sometimes much longer - almost twice wingspan is still useable depending on how they drape them.